April 13, 2005

Life is brilliant right now!--So is spent the last half of school today watching SuperSize Me, as did all the students. The children went to their homerooms to watch. I, as an art teacher with freedom of choice, went to the special ed room to hang out with my fave kids. The movie got me to thinking (I have a goal of gaining 30 pounds before going to Japan as "insurance fat," but I have reconsidered and want to gain only pure muscle now, which will be tons harder).--I leave you with a "Koan" came across recently.

A university student while visiting Gasan asked him: "Have you ever read the Christian Bible?"

"No, read it to me," said Gasan.

The student opened the Bible and read from St. Matthew: "And why take ye thought for rainment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin, and yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these... Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself."

The student continued reading: "Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened."

Gasan remarked: "That is excellent. Whoever said that is not far from Buddhahood."

April 7, 2005

One evening as Shichiri Kojun was reciting sutras a thief with a sharp sword entered, demanding wither his money or his life. Shichiri told him: "Do not disturb me. You can find the money in that drawer." Then he resumed his recitation. A little while afterwards he stopped and called: "Don't take it all. I need some to pay taxes with tomorrow." The intruder gathered up most of the money and started to leave. "Thank a person when you receive a gift," Shichiri added. The man thanked him and made off. A few days afterwards the fellow was caught and confessed, among others, the offense against Shichiri. When Shichiri was called as a witness he said: "This man is no thief, at least as far as I am concerned. I gave him the money and he thanked me for it." After he had finished his prison term, the man went to Shichiri and became his disciple.

April 5, 2005

I've been having weird dreams lately. The R as a bulemic/suspected alcoholic was pretty choice, but last night I found myself talking to Tori Amos. I say a prayer for some reason, and we get into an argument about religion. I back up my position, and Tori apologizes. Then we made friendly and had a smashing time on the town.--Guess what? It seems I am indeed going to Japan; it is now just a matter of the JET people setting me up with a contract. Cool beans. Sionara, kids.